Samson Raphaelson (1894–1983)

Joan Fontaine was wonderful in this sensitive film about a shy woman who unexpectedly finds love and allows her insecurities to fuel her imagination with suspicion. She easily won the Academy Award for her performance following her fine turn the prior year in Rebecca, for which she sadly did not. Based on a novel by Francis Iles, Hitchcock’s second film starring Fontaine is more about love and the fear of losing it than suspense, but still has enough of his little touches to make it show more enjoyable as both.

Joan Fontaine is the shy but wealthy Lina. Though her head is often buried in books, her heart still beats, and when she is shown a little attention by irresponsible charmer Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant), who calls her monkey-face, she begins to fall in love. When she overhears her family talking about her, the viewer feels her pain. Fontaine is wonderful here — and all throughout this film classic — using subtle movements and expressions to convey the terrible hurt within her heart; and the doubts when the romance and adventure both she and those who know her thought she’d never experience appear to be in the offing. Fontaine is marvelous as she pines for the popular Johnnie to come calling again, until finally a cablegram salvages her pride in front of her skeptical family.

Grant is excellent as the off-beat and fun Johnnie. When Lina finds the courage to tell Johnnie she loves him, he realizes he feels the same and on a rainy night they dash off to get married. Lina begins to see Johnnie in a different light however, after they have tied the knot, when his pal Beaky (Nigel Bruce) comes calling. So used are we at seeing Bruce with Rathbone in Sherlock Homes it takes some getting used to at first to accept him as Johnnie’s pal. Once we do however he puts on a good show as the affable Beaky.

Johnnie’s gambling and irresponsible ways are off-set by his charm, and at first Lina’s faith in him is usually restored at the last moment. But too many things begin to add up, and not in Johnnie’s favor. Debts, theft, a death mirroring events in a mystery book, and a woman’s insecurities are blended to create mounting tension by Hitchcock as the film progresses; until finally, a truly terrible possibility comes into play.

Fontaine is simply enchanting in a tender and subtle performance and Cary Grant gives Johnnie just the right mix of charm and danger. The beautiful romantic score from Franz Waxman was Oscar-nominated. Heather Angel has a nice part as the maid Ethel, and Auriol Lee lends fine support as the mystery-writer friend of Lina. Sherlock Holmes’ Watson, Nigel Bruce, really shines as Johnnie’s likable pal, Beaky, giving a splendid performance. Though Hitchcock’s ending, which differs from the original source, has been disparaged by many fans and critics alike, the sensitive and romantic tone of the film almost demands the ending we get, and that’s all I can say. A very fine romantic film with an underscore of suspense, Suspicion is worth watching for Fontaine’s performance alone. show less

Aristocratic thieves in a love triangle with their mark.

A fun movie. And presumably a very important movie, but I couldn't care less about that sort of thing. It's too restrained for the comedy to get more than a few chuckles, and too lighthearted for the suspense and romantic drama to be effective. Marshall doesn't have enough charisma to bring anything special to his role. And any story set among the aristocracy isn't something that's going to hook my interest. I enjoyed it, show more though.

Concept: C
Story: B
Characters: A
Dialog: A
Pacing: B
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 3.0/4 show less

A woman's husband might be considering murder.

2.5/4 (Okay).

Do we really care if he is a murderer or not? I mean, we know he's a dick either way. When it comes to a fictional character, that's what really matters. Murder would just be a plot point.

A soldier accidentally smiles at a princess.

2.5/4 (Okay).

It's a pleasant enough movie. The story is unpredictable (for a romantic comedy), and very pre-code. The songs are pretty bad.